Headquarters House (Fayetteville, Arkansas)
Encyclopedia
Headquarters House is a house in Fayetteville, Arkansas
built in 1850. It saw action in the American Civil War
, serving as a headquarters for both the Union
and Confederacy
. During the action at Fayetteville
, the house was attacked by Confederate troops while serving as a Union outpost. The building was donated to the Washington County Historical Society as a museum in 1967 and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1971.
. It was completed by 1853. Although northwest Arkansans had both Union and Confederate sympathies, Tebbetts became an outspoken supporter of the Union and was arrested in March 1862. Tebbetts was taken to Fort Smith
by Rebel General Benjamin McCulloch
, but was released upon his death in the Battle of Pea Ridge
. He escaped to Fayetteville where he learned of a price on his head and fled to Missouri
. He returned for his family later in the year, which was the last time the family inhabited the home. The Union took command of the house shortly after their departure.
The Rebels attacked at 6:00 am in east Fayetteville, drawing fire while artillery climbed East Mountain and fired into the city. One cannonball struck the front door of the Headquarters House, and the house sustained lots of damage throughout the battle. The Union rallied and began to push the Confederates out of Fayetteville later in the morning. Despite a desperate charge up Dickson Street
, the Confederates finally decided they could not take the Headquarters House and withdrew. The door and cannonball remain and are now displayed within the museum.
and dentil
trimmed eaves are common in similar structures. The parlor fireplace is also typical of Greek Revival style.
Fayetteville, Arkansas
Fayetteville is the county seat of Washington County, and the third largest city in Arkansas. The city is centrally located within the county and is home to the University of Arkansas. Fayetteville is also deep in the Boston Mountains, a subset of The Ozarks...
built in 1850. It saw action in the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, serving as a headquarters for both the Union
Union (American Civil War)
During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
and Confederacy
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
. During the action at Fayetteville
Action at Fayetteville
The Battle of Fayetteville was a skirmish of the American Civil War fought on 18 April 1863 and had an undecided result.-The battle:Confederate Brigadier General William L. Cabell departed Ozark, Arkansas with 900 cavalry with the intent to dislodge the Union from Fayetteville, Arkansas...
, the house was attacked by Confederate troops while serving as a Union outpost. The building was donated to the Washington County Historical Society as a museum in 1967 and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1971.
History
The house was constructed by Judge Jonas Tebbetts and his wife in the Greek Revival architectural styleGreek Revival architecture
The Greek Revival was an architectural movement of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, predominantly in Northern Europe and the United States. A product of Hellenism, it may be looked upon as the last phase in the development of Neoclassical architecture...
. It was completed by 1853. Although northwest Arkansans had both Union and Confederate sympathies, Tebbetts became an outspoken supporter of the Union and was arrested in March 1862. Tebbetts was taken to Fort Smith
Fort Smith, Arkansas
Fort Smith is the second-largest city in Arkansas and one of the two county seats of Sebastian County. With a population of 86,209 in 2010, it is the principal city of the Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area, a region of 298,592 residents which encompasses the Arkansas...
by Rebel General Benjamin McCulloch
Benjamin McCulloch
Benjamin McCulloch was a soldier in the Texas Revolution, a Texas Ranger, a U.S. marshal, and a brigadier general in the army of the Confederate States during the American Civil War.-Early life:...
, but was released upon his death in the Battle of Pea Ridge
Battle of Pea Ridge
The Battle of Pea Ridge was a land battle of the American Civil War, fought on March 6–8, 1862, at Pea Ridge in northwest Arkansas, near Garfield. In the battle, Union forces led by Brig. Gen. Samuel R. Curtis defeated Confederate troops under Maj. Gen. Earl Van Dorn. The outcome of the...
. He escaped to Fayetteville where he learned of a price on his head and fled to Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
. He returned for his family later in the year, which was the last time the family inhabited the home. The Union took command of the house shortly after their departure.
Action at Fayetteville
The Headquarters House was the intended target of a Confederate attack on April 18, 1863. Union forces were using the house as a base for their northwest Arkansas operations. With a successful capture of the Headquarters House the Rebels could sweep the Union from northwest Arkansas.The Rebels attacked at 6:00 am in east Fayetteville, drawing fire while artillery climbed East Mountain and fired into the city. One cannonball struck the front door of the Headquarters House, and the house sustained lots of damage throughout the battle. The Union rallied and began to push the Confederates out of Fayetteville later in the morning. Despite a desperate charge up Dickson Street
Dickson Street
The West Dickson Street Commercial Historic District, known as Dickson Street is an area in downtown Fayetteville, Arkansas just off the University of Arkansas campus. It is lined with multiple bars, restaurants, and shops unique to the area. Many large condo projects are now under construction as...
, the Confederates finally decided they could not take the Headquarters House and withdrew. The door and cannonball remain and are now displayed within the museum.
Architecture
The Headquarters House exhibits many key characteristics of Greek Revival architecture. The porch's fluted columnsFluting (architecture)
Fluting in architecture refers to the shallow grooves running vertically along a surface.It typically refers to the grooves running on a column shaft or a pilaster, but need not necessarily be restricted to those two applications...
and dentil
Dentil
In classical architecture a dentil is a small block used as a repeating ornament in the bedmould of a cornice.The Roman architect Vitruvius In classical architecture a dentil (from Lat. dens, a tooth) is a small block used as a repeating ornament in the bedmould of a cornice.The Roman architect...
trimmed eaves are common in similar structures. The parlor fireplace is also typical of Greek Revival style.
See also
- Action at FayettevilleAction at FayettevilleThe Battle of Fayetteville was a skirmish of the American Civil War fought on 18 April 1863 and had an undecided result.-The battle:Confederate Brigadier General William L. Cabell departed Ozark, Arkansas with 900 cavalry with the intent to dislodge the Union from Fayetteville, Arkansas...
- Ridge House
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Washington County, ArkansasNational Register of Historic Places listings in Washington County, ArkansasThis is a list of the National Register of Historic Places listings in Washington County, Arkansas.This is intended to be a complete list of the properties and districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Washington County, Arkansas, United States...